“Good night, baby girl.” Lisha said, tapping Lizzy on the nose as she tucked her in after a hard day of school.

“Mama, can you tell me a story?” Lizzy asked. “I want a bedtime story!”

“A story?” Lisha said, confused. “What kind of story?”

“Um… a sweet one!”

“Well, let me tell you a classic one that my people told me.” she said, sitting down on the bed. It creaked and groaned slightly.

“Oooh.” Lizzy said in anticipation.

“There were once two Carvatians who were from different worlds. One soared in the skies and the other in the depths below the ocean’s waves. Now, these Carvatians were quite small compared to the rest of their families, so they were made fun of. Eventually they left the other Carvatians entirely and lived on their own.

One day the Carvatian of the sky came down to drink from the water. And the Carvatian of the sea came to the stream to be alone. In a chance meeting they locked eyes and started talking. The one from the sky talked about how he felt so free flying in ways that people never wanted him to. The one from the sea talked about how he’s swam the ocean’s depths where he was told he was forbidden. The Carvatian from the sky wanted to take the other on a fly through the sky.

“Look at my back.” said the one from the sea, pointing to his wingless back. “I do not fly. No more than you can swim.”

“Then let me help you fly.” said the one from the sky.

He took the other’s hand and lifted him high into the air, and the two of them soared above the landscape in wonder. The one from the sea was starstruck at the sights he never knew existed. And the other Carvatian was overjoyed to have someone to share the sights with.”

“Did they end up together, mama?” Lizzy asked in anticipation. “Did they? Did they?”

“Yes, they did.” Lisha laughed. “They soared above the skies every day, despite one of them having no wings. And so, they say the two of them still fly high above the skies together, sharing their love and spreading their message to others like them. The end.”

“I love it!”  Lizzy cheered, clapping. Lisha ruffled her hair and tucked her back into bed.

“Me too, baby.” Lisha giggled. “It’s my favorite one. I’ll see you tomorrow.”